Town manager Kieran McKenna has spoken about his first two outfield signings, Azor Matusiwa and Cedric Kipre, who played a half each in today’s 4-1 friendly win at Blau-Weiß Linz, and says the Blues need to be in a position to recruit more players from overseas.

Central midfielder Matusiwa joined on a permanent basis from Rennes for €9 million (£7.8 million), signing a four-year deal, while central defender Kipre joined on a season-long loan from Reims.

“I think Azor first of all, that’s certainly a position we need to add to this summer and still need to add to,” McKenna said.

“He’s a player that the club has tracked for quite a while actually, through the whole of last season and beyond that. And, of course, he used to play with Jens [Cajuste at Reims prior to joining Rennes last summer] as well, so he’s been on the radar for a little while.

“A really good midfielder, really high energy, does both sides of the game really well, defends well, presses well, intercepts well, is a real team player and uses the ball well.

“It’s not an easy role to come into in a team and it will take him time to fully adapt but he made a good start this week and is a great guy, so he’s fitted into the group really well.

“And Cedric, we wanted to add more strength in that area to make sure we’ve got good depth and good options and he’s a really strong defender with experience at the level.

“Should be able to fit in really well, has fitted in really well pretty quickly and he’s someone we’re glad to have in.”

Asked whether he has been keeping a particular eye on the French league lately, McKenna smiled: “You’d find plenty of video of Cedric without looking at the French league. He’s a player we know really well from his time in England as well.

“Azor is one that the club have watched for quite a while and I think it’s well discussed internally, and probably externally, that we need to expand our scouting networks and be able to recruit from different markets.

“It’s always about getting the right player but the wider you have good insight into different leagues, the better.

“Azor is a player who doesn’t have experience in England but has a lot of top-flight experience and we think in time his qualities will translate really well to the Championship and we think could translate well to the division above as well.”

Photo: ITFC

BlueHennee added 13:43 - Jul 21 A lot of well thought out, honest analysis on here. We ALL want ITFC to do well; we are all fans; we want our team to win. Of course. There are difficult questions to address though and last seasons catastrophic failure is the main one. McK has been brilliant & a breathe of fresh air but was definitely found wanting last season against the big boys! Learn from mistakes; of course that’s the only way to grow BUT, did he? That’s the question. We started the season strongly but got worse. There were a lot of fine margins but my concern was the tactics never changed in relation to the opposition. My hubby is a NUFC supporter so we watched a lot of their games. Eddie Howe is a master tactician with his 2nd in command constantly in his ear. Who does McK have to bounce off; to share ideas as the game progresses; to tell him he’s got it wrong? Majorly disappointing season for me because I was expecting the tide to turn all season; lessons to be learnt; new formations & tactics. We were very unlucky with injuries to key players which didn’t help admittedly. But even so, same results leo happening. I completely understand Burgess leaving; he was very angry playing last couple of months with all those around. And how many crosses were never made is what drove me crazy. If you’re too slow; opposition get back in shape. If the ball doesn’t get put in the box, how are you gonna score. And this season we may be helped by the goalkeeper new 8 second rule: why the long throw from the goalkeeper was hardly ever used was hard to watch also. How many brilliant goals the season before had Haldky instigated with a quick throw out to a willing runner? And do hey never watch the other teams play???? Lots to unpack and I’m not sure if I’ve missed the answers to these questions? Or have they not been asked?

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atty added 15:24 - Jul 21 Regarding recruitment now we have access to Brighton’s Jamestown Analytics system again for this season l would like to think that we are in strong position. At least it will provide us with what we need for a season while we get up to speed, or at least make considerable progress.
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